Toyota to Unveil New CUV at Detroit Show

Special Coverage

North American Int’l Auto Show

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. will debut the Venza, which it calls a “crossover sedan” scheduled for sale next year in the U.S. as an ’09 model, at next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Toyota says the Venza will be built at its Georgetown, KY, plant, home to the Camry midsize sedan.

A Toyota spokeswoman won’t say if the Venza is related to any Toyota sold overseas but the auto maker says in a statement it was designed and engineered in the U.S.

It is unclear whether the model will replace the Camry Solara on Toyota’s Georgetown production line. Executives have hinted strongly the coupe version of the Camry does not have a future beyond its current generation.

Toyota promises seating for five, a car-like ride and “functional utility” from the Venza, which it says also will have easy ingress and egress.

Toyota’s press conference in Detroit is set for Jan. 14.

The Toyota brand already offers two car-based cross/utility vehicles in the U.S., the compact RAV4 and midsize Highlander.